LESSON 29: DOMINANCE AND SUBMISSIVENESS HONORS ENGLISH I VOCABULARY

CAPITULATE (intrans. verb) a. To surrender under specified conditions; b. To give up all resistance Example: After repeated attacks, the city capitulated to the superior forces of the enemy.

CONDESCEND (intrans. verb) a. To agree to do something one regards as below one’s rank or dignity. b. To deal with people in a superior or haughty manner. Example: The world-renowned soprano condescended to be a judge at the high school talent show.

DEFERENCE (noun) a. Courteous respect; submission to the opinion, wishes, or decisions of another. Example: During the rehearsal the actors showed deference toward the director because they respected her authority and talent.

GROVEL (intrans. verb) a. To behave in a demeaning or self-abasing manner; kowtow; truckle. b. To lie or crawl on the ground face down as a gesture of submissiveness or abasement. Example: When your meet Tom Tetrazzini, your favorite movie star, you should not grovel; rather, act naturally and be polite.

LACKEY (noun) A follower who behaves in the manner of a servant; toady; flunky. A liveried manservant; footman. Example: Since Sylvia became the manager of the team, she has behaved like the coach’s lackey, incapable of making her own decisions.

PREDOMINATE (Intrans. verb) To have greater authority, power, or influence; prevail. Example: Because of the seniority rules, senior members predominate, and junior members have little effect on policy.

SLAVISH (adjective) Characteristic of a slave; slavelike in manner; servile. Example: The presumptuous customers expected the salespeople to lavish slavish attention on them.

SUBJUGATION (noun) a. The act of bringing under rule or dominion. b. Enslavement. Example: The Greek subjugation of the Trojans took ten years.

SUPERCILIOUS (adjective) Proudly scornful; disdainful; contemptuous. Example: When Mrs. Thornton asked the desk clerk if she could bring her dog to the hotel, he gave her a supercilious look that made it quite clear that dogs were not welcome at the Carlton Savoy.

SYCOPHANT (noun) One who seeks favor or advancement through flattering important people; a bootlicker. Example: Although the deposed monarch no longer had any power, his entourage of former cabinet ministers and sycophants made him appear every inch a king.